As Orion sharpened his stake, he practiced keeping his mind totally blank. Even after years of discipline, this was not an easy task. There were too many thoughts rushing through his brain tonight, mainly about Trent, and he could not quiet them all.
He picked up the stake and admired his handiwork-it was two feet long, heavy, and deadly sharp. Suddenly he brought it up and slammed it into the wall. Pulling it out easily, he inspected it. Not even the very tip was bent-it looked as if it had sliced through butter. He smiled, a cold killing smile. This would do the job just fine.
It was three in the morning, everyone in the house was asleep, and Orion wanted to get this job over with. He didn't care what the price was, he wanted the problem of Trent Raven out of his life forever.
He slipped out of his room and into the hallway, silent as a ghost. Reaching Trent's room, he stopped at the door and listened hard, with both his ears and his mind. Satisfied that she was very deeply asleep, he took out the spell that a witch of Selyah's, by the name of Roriah, had given him. Placing the little circle of sage and gold wire around the doorknob, he closed his eyes and whispered, Very, very carefully, Orion turned the knob and opened the door.
Reaching Trent's bedroom, for a second he was stunned. A beam of moonlight spilled across her bed, illuminating her form against the blankets. Her pale skin seemed to almost blend in with the cream-colored sheets, and her black hair seemed even darker in contrast. Her mouth was slightly parted, and there was a troubled, angered expression on her face. In the white, silky moonlight, she was so beautiful that she took Orion's breath away.
Tipto-ing to her side, he lifted his stake high. Staring at her face, he remembered how her fierce blue eyes flashed when she was angry. He remembered how she used to smirk when she knew she had gotten to him. He remembered how she used to toss her hair when she knew she was right. He remembered the first time they had met, how she had called him by his nick name so nonchalantly, as if she had known him forever.
He couldn't kill her. There was no doubt in his mind anymore-she was his soulmate, and he could not kill her. He knew that letting her live was suicide, and still he could not bring that stake down. He just stood there, poised on the brink of two different hells.
Suddenly Trent's eyes snapped open, and the first thing they saw was Orion's stake held straight above her heart. She rolled off the bed and leapt to her feet, kicking him against the wall. Orion didn't even struggle as she pressed the stake against his heart. He didn't care if she killed him-life without her wasn't worth living anyway.
You're one of Selyah's, aren't you? Orion said nothing. Aren't you, you lying bastard! Orion closed his eyes and nodded.
Give me one good reason not to pierce you through the heart. Trent's voice was brutal and harsh, and despair and rage were pounding in her ears. Give me one reason, Orion!
Orion's eyes were wet as he stared blankly back at her. I can't.
Why not?
He swallowed hard. Because there are none.
Trent stared at him. She took a step back and lowered the stake. she whispered. Get as far away from me and from me and from here as possible, because if I ever see you again near me, I will kill you. Orion said nothing, just stared at her.
Her throat was tight. Go! Get away from here! She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, Orion was gone.
Trent sat down on the bed, and the stake dropped from her shaking fingers. She had just dispatched another assassin, she had foiled Selyah's plans once again, she should be happy, she should be doing a victory dance. Instead, for the first time in three years, her eyes filled again and she began to cry.